Good news! There are foods that lower blood sugar. This is huge as elevated blood sugar over time leads to diabetes. Diabetes is a growing problem leading to obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, kidney disease, neurologic symptoms, and visual problems. Diabetes is a multi-organ disease.
So what can you do know to lower blood sugar? Most people know, and we have discussed in several articles, the importance of avoiding sugars and simple carbohydrates to prevent diabetes. But, there are some foods that lower blood sugar you can incorporate into your diet.Â
Foods That Lower Blood Sugar
- Garlic
- Nuts
- Legumes
- Avocado
- Berries
- Sweet potatoes/yams
- Oatmeal
- Yogurt
Garlic
Sometimes called an herb or spice, garlic is actually a vegetable and frequently added to many dishes as a seasoning. The key health component in garlic is allicin.
Studies have shown garlic supplements to lead to a significant reduction in HgA1C (90 day indicator of blood sugar control) in as little as a week. It can also reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Nuts
Nuts are among the best snack foods. They are rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, rich in fiber, high magnesium. Nuts blunt the body’s response to carbohydrates leading to a lower elevation in blood sugar following a meal.
Focus on eating whole or unprocessed nuts.
Legumes
Legumes include beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils. All of these when added to meal improve blood sugar control. Legumes are high fiber, protein, and complex carbohydrates.
Avocados
Avocados contain a fat molecule, avocatin B, that reduces insulin resistance (improves blood sugar control). Many people find avocados delicious and they can be easily be incorporated into many meal plans.
Berries
Pound for pound berries may be the most nutrient dense fruit out there. Cranberries, strawberries , blueberries, and raspberries all lower the surge in blood sugar after meal in obese individuals or those with existing insulin resistance.
Berries can be eaten separately, or as part of a salad, and used in the making of smoothies.
Sweet Potatoes/Yams
While regular potatoes have high glycemic indexes (sharp rise in blood sugar), sweet potatoes and yams do not. Both the flesh and skin of sweet potatoes and yams are nutrient dense. Substitute sweet potatoes for regular potatoes whenever you can.
Oats contain B-glucans. B-glucans lower blood sugar after a meal, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce blood lipids or fats. Several studies have shown oats to have beneficial effects on cholesterol and blood sugar control in diabetics. Don’t overdo it with oats, though, if you have diabetes as a cup of oats contain 28 grams of carbohydrates.
Yogurt
Yogurt is the only dairy product that reduces the chance of developing diabetes. Plain yogurt daily reduces the risk of developing diabetes. Avoid sweetened or flavored yogurts, though, if your goal is to control your blood sugar. It is unclear why yogurt has its blood sugar lowering effect.
So if your blood sugar control needs some help substitute some of what your are eating with these healthier foods that lower blood sugar.
